From the Newsroom*
São Paulo – Brazilian mining company Companhia Vale do Rio Doce inaugurated today (05) the Brucutu project, which, according to the company, will be the largest iron ore mine in the world in terms of initial production capacity. The complex, located in the city of São Gonçalo, in the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, is going to produce 12.2 million tonnes in its first phase.
According to the company, in the second phase, scheduled for 2007, production will be increased to 23 million tonnes per year. In 2008 the installed capacity, according to Vale, should reach 30 million tonnes. Around 2,500 people are going to work at the site. The mine has reserves of 737 million tonnes.
The mining company informs that investment in the mine totalled US$ 507 million (at current exchange rates) and that 26,000 people worked on the construction. The complex also counts on a concentration mine. According to Vale, the operation of the mine and the railway loading of the product is fully automatic.
*Translated by Mark Ament
